Police arrest man impersonating President Ruto's mother security detail

Police in Eldoret are holding in custody a 34-year-old man pretending to be a General Service Officer attached to President William Ruto's mother Sarah Cheruiyot.

The suspect was booked at the central police station following investigations into complaints from a victim of extortion, said to be a military officer.

Posing as a GSU officer, he is said to have demanded Sh400,000 from his victim with a promise to enlist his orphan relative in the forthcoming Kenya Prison Service nationwide mass recruitment exercise.

The suspect, a father of three, was arrested in Eldoret town by the victim, with the help of residents, and escorted to Central police station, where he was processed.

He told the military officer that he had links to the State House and that he was in a position to ensure his orphaned relative secured employment in the Kenya Prison on condition that he part with Sh400,000.

"I was linked to the suspect through a well-known friend of mine who claimed to be a police corporal attached to Eldoret police station. I believed him when he referred me to the suspect for assistance to secure a job for my orphaned relative in the Kenya Prison service," said the military officer who declined to be named.

The military officer, however, said that he sensed danger after the suspect declined to show him his identity card as requested.

"When I showed him my card, he started panicking and tried to jump on a motor bike, but I told the rider not to take him anywhere since he was a thief," he said.

Turbo sub county officer in charge of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Richard Okeri, confirmed the arrest and said that he was helping them with investigations into the alleged recruitment scam.